Petition Urges Stockton University To Reverse Vaccine Mandate

GALLOWAY, NJ — An online petition written by a Stockton University student is urging school officials to reverse the university’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement.

The petition was launched in response to Stockton University’s announcement last week requiring all residential and commuter students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for the fall semester. Read more: Stockton University Will Require Students To Get COVID-19 Vaccine

The petition is addressed to Stockton University, the Stockton Community and President Harvey Kesselman.

“The purpose of this letter isn’t to be anti-vaccine, rather it is to question the university’s choice to forcibly mandate the vaccine in order to continue student enrollment at Stockton University,” wrote petition organizer and senior student, Nicholas Carlson.

He continues, “In what has already been a confusing and unprecedented time for the student body and Stockton community, taking this drastic step to force an experimental vaccine on the student body only adds to the fear and discomfort the student body is facing.”

The full petition can be found here.

A Stockton University spokesperson told Patch that officials are aware of the petition, adding that the university's decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine was made after discussions with health care professionals.

“Our decision to mandate the vaccine for students was made after careful consideration and discussion with our peer institutions and state and local legal and health care professionals. We continue to monitor the process and any future changes would be made based on their guidance,” said Diane D’Amico, director of news and media relations for Stockton University.

In the petition, Carlson criticized Stockton University for making the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement among students, while “highly recommending” it to faculty and staff.

As to why it has not been mandated for faculty D’Amico said, "Stockton employees are covered by various contractual provisions that must be considered. The issue is under review.”

Stockton University announced last week that more than 35 percent of Stockton employees voluntarily reported that they have been vaccinated.

Stockton University is one of the latest in-state colleges to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for students, alongside Rutgers, Princeton, Rider, Drew, Fairleigh Dickinson, Kean, Rowan, Montclair State, The College of New Jersey, NJIT in Newark, Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken and New Jersey City University.

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